WKOK NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008

Cleanup of a fuel Spill after a Snyder county Crash

MONROE TOWNSHIP – A crash on the Selinsgrove Bypass in Monroe Township, Snyder County early this morning has slowed traffic, and caused a diesel fuel spill from ruptured tanks. State Police at Selinsgrove tell WKOK that a trucker headed north on Routes 11/15 shortly after 4 AM didn’t realize the left lane ended and drove up onto some guardrails. The truck operated by 38-year-old Scott Davis of Stanley New York, drove over some 100 yards of guide rail according to investigators. That caused the fuel tanks to rupture on the vehicle, spilling approximately 75 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway. Northridge Group Incorporated remains on the scene, cleaning up the spill. State police say the driver was not injured. He does face a charge of careless driving. The Hummel’s Wharf Fire department was called to the scene to assist with traffic control following that early morning accident on the Selinsgrove Bypass in Snyder County. (Terry Diener)

Portion of Route 54 closed Saturday while crews respond to fire scene

MT. CARMEL TWP – A fire call near Strong had a portion of Route 54 closed in Northumberland County Saturday afternoon. Natalie Fire Chief, Bob Fanella, says crews saw a lot of smoke and fire when they first arrived on scene around 12 p.m. He says numerous area fire crews responded and they were able to knock down the fire fairly quickly, stopping it from spreading to two connecting buildings. Fanella says the building has been vacant for several years and was once used by a coal mining operation. Crews arrived on scene in full gear, because Fanella says they weren’t sure if any contents in the building were toxic. He says one firefighter was treated for a burn injury and no cause of the fire is known at this time. (Sara Lauver)

Fire near Pillow in Northumberland County heavily damages home

PILLOW - A family of four is temporarily homeless after fire damaged their home near Pillow, in Jordan Township, Northumberland County on Saturday afternoon. The Daily Item quotes Pillow Fire Chief Rodney Rumberger as saying that Tod and Lisa Zimmerman and their two sons returned home around 12:30 Saturday Afternoon to find their home at 495 Mountain Top Road engulfed in flames. Rumberger says an initial investigation indicates that lightning may have touched off that fire, which heavily damaged the first floor of the house. The family has temporarily moved into a camper on their property. Firefighters from Pillow, Hickory Corners, Klingerstown, Dalmatia, Herndon, Gratz and Millersburg, spent nearly four-and-a-half hours on the scene of that blaze in Jordan Township, Northumberland County. (Terry Diener)

Lightning may have caused Irish Valley Road Fire

TREVORTON – Flames that destroyed a home along Irish Valley Road in Northumberland County may have been caused by a lightning strike. That’s the word from investigators probing the early morning blaze Saturday morning . Occupants of the home were able to get out safely yesterday morning and went to a neighbor residence to call in the alarm. Northumberland County Communications said the fire was reported around 4a.m. and when volunteers first arrived on scene—flames were reportedly shooting through the roof of the home. Shamokin Township, Stonington, Overlook and Elysburg fire departments all responded to the fire in Paxinos Saturday morning. (Terry Diener)

Kid’s triathlon field full

LEWISBURG – A kids’ triathlon is proving to be more popular than anyone expected. The upcoming 2^nd Annual Winans’ Triathlon for Kids involves swimming, cycling and running at the Lewisburg Community Park on St. Mary’s Street. Race Director Tara Michaels says Dr. Lawrence Winans and others supported the event from the beginning and are watching it grow. Michaels says the three divisions of the kids’ triathlon are already filled to capacity, though if there are cancellations, there is a waiting list. She notes the kids’ triathlon is especially popular among parents and relatives, who fill the park in order to watch.

The Winans’ Triathlon for Kids is planned for Friday, August 15^th at 6:30 p.m. The 3^rd Annual LARA Sprint Triathlon for grown-ups is the following day and still has entry slots available. Portions of both events use roadways in Lewisburg and surrounding townships, and caution is advised for motorists. We’ll have more about the Sprint Triathlon as race day approaches. (Matt Farrand)

Be happy at Lemonade Day in Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND – The 4^th annual Lemonade Day in Northumberland was held over the weekend and 6-year-old, MacRay Vankirk, tells us he came out to play some games, make some money, and “just be happy.”

Kids throughout the community had the opportunity to set-up their own lemonade stands and participate in games and other activities throughout the day. Awards were given out for the best stand and of course, the best tasting, lemonade. The event is usually held on the 200 block of Front Street in the borough, but it was moved into the Second Street School due to rain. The event is held by the Northumberland Point Township Revitalization Committee. (Sara Lauver)

Drain Pipe theft near Shamokin under investigation

SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP – Seven large drain pipes have been stolen from a location in Shamokin Township Northumberland County. State police from Stonington say the black, corrugated pipes are twenty feet long, and eighteen inches in Diameter. The pipes, owned by the Department of Transportation were stolen from School House Road between July 22^nd and August 1^st. They are valued at $28-hundred. (Terry Diener)

Representative Belfanti’s back surgery successful

HARRISBURG – State Representative, Bob Belfanti Jr., says surgery on his lower spine went well and was successful. After being postponed twice, the surgery was performed Wednesday at Hershey Medical Center and Belfanti was sent home Friday. Belfanti says he will be confined to bed rest and limited therapy for the next three to four weeks and full recovery is expected to take between three to four months. (Sara Lauver)

Near-unanimous approval for military spending bill

WASHINGTON – $24 million dollars to fund a military reserve center in Lewisburg is part of a spending bill that passed the House Friday by a vote of 409 to 4. Congressman Chris Carney voted for it and calls it step toward providing reservists with modern facilities to train locally. The bill also spends more than $18 million dollars for a reserve center in Williamsport. A similar funding measure was passed by the US senate in July, and now awaits presidential approval (Matt Farrand)

Argument turns physical; two cited for harassment

MIDDLEBURG – Two Middleburg residents, one a juvenile, are facing harassment charges after police were called to the scene of a domestic dispute in Snyder County’s Franklin Township Thursday afternoon. State Police in Selinsgrove say a 17-year-old juvenile got into an argument with 52-year-old, Keith James, at a residence around 3:30 p.m. Police say the argument turned physical and both were cited for harassment in District Court. (Sara Lauver)

Utility reports lower quarterly earnings

ALLENTOWN – Lower earnings at PPL Corp are being attributed rising fuel costs, the sale of the electric delivery business they once owned Latin America, and loss of a one-time tax advantage from a year ago. The utility reports second quarter earnings of 50 cents per share, compared with 88 cents per share during the same period in 2007. The loss of earnings from a synthetic fuel business is also noted. Efficient energy marketing and trading activities offset the negative news somewhat.

The company that serves several million customers in Pennsylvania announced earnings Friday. (Matt Farrand)

Here is the latest Pennsylvania news from The Associated Press:

SOMERSET (AP) - Supporters of a planned memorial to victims of hijacked Flight 93 in Somerset County say it was fairly and impartially selected out of 1,100 submitted. Opponents say it's shaped like a crescent, a symbol of Islam, and honors the 9-11 hijackers.

STATE COLLEGE AP)- State police say they're still making progress in figuring out who fatally stabbed a Penn State graduate student in 1969. Trooper Kent Bernier says he hopes DNA evidence will help him find the killer of 22-year-old Betsy Aardsma.

DERRY (AP) - A Westmoreland County family is safe after getting lost in the woods during a severe thunderstorm. Derry Borough police say Tom and Kathy Perry and their 5-year-old twin daughters huddled together overnight for warmth. No injuries were reported.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Saturday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery:

SATURDAY NIGHT

Daily Number

0-9-0

Big 4

8-5-4-7

The winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Powerball are:

02-05-28-33-54

Powerball: 30

Power Play: 05

SATURDAY MIDDAY

Daily Number

9-3-2

Big 4

8-0-8-2

Treasure Hunt

7-8-15-16-30

The winning numbers drawn Saturday in the "Pennsylvania Cash

5" game were:

14-35-37-38-42

	Here is the latest from Newsradio 1070 WKOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008 Cleanup of a fuel Spill after a Snyder county Crash MONROE TOWNSHIP – A crash on the Selinsgrove Bypass in Monroe Township, Snyder County early this morning has slowed traffic, and caused a diesel fuel spill from ruptured tanks. State Police at Selinsgrove tell WKOK that a trucker headed north on Routes 11/15 shortly after 4 AM didn’t realize the left lane ended and drove up onto some guardrails. The truck operated by 38-year-old Scott Davis of Stanley New York, drove over some 100 yards of guide rail according to investigators. That caused the fuel tanks to rupture on the vehicle, spilling approximately 75 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway. Northridge Group Incorporated remains on the scene, cleaning up the spill. State police say the driver was not injured. He does face a charge of careless driving. The Hummel’s Wharf Fire department was called to the scene to assist with traffic control following that early morning accident on the Selinsgrove Bypass in Snyder County. (Terry Diener) Portion of Route 54 closed Saturday while crews respond to fire scene MT. CARMEL TWP – A fire call near Strong had a portion of Route 54 closed in Northumberland County Saturday afternoon. Natalie Fire Chief, Bob Fanella, says crews saw a lot of smoke and fire when they first arrived on scene around 12 p.m. He says numerous area fire crews responded and they were able to knock down the fire fairly quickly, stopping it from spreading to two connecting buildings. Fanella says the building has been vacant for several years and was once used by a coal mining operation. Crews arrived on scene in full gear, because Fanella says they weren’t sure if any contents in the building were toxic. He says one firefighter was treated for a burn injury and no cause of the fire is known at this time. (Sara Lauver) Fire near Pillow in Northumberland County heavily damages home PILLOW - A family of four is temporarily homeless after fire damaged their home near Pillow, in Jordan Township, Northumberland County on Saturday afternoon. The Daily Item quotes Pillow Fire Chief Rodney Rumberger as saying that Tod and Lisa Zimmerman and their two sons returned home around 12:30 Saturday Afternoon to find their home at 495 Mountain Top Road engulfed in flames. Rumberger says an initial investigation indicates that lightning may have touched off that fire, which heavily damaged the first floor of the house. The family has temporarily moved into a camper on their property. Firefighters from Pillow, Hickory Corners, Klingerstown, Dalmatia, Herndon, Gratz and Millersburg, spent nearly four-and-a-half hours on the scene of that blaze in Jordan Township, Northumberland County. (Terry Diener) Lightning may have caused Irish Valley Road Fire TREVORTON – Flames that destroyed a home along Irish Valley Road in Northumberland County may have been caused by a lightning strike. That’s the word from investigators probing the early morning blaze Saturday morning . Occupants of the home were able to get out safely yesterday morning and went to a neighbor residence to call in the alarm. Northumberland County Communications said the fire was reported around 4a.m. and when volunteers first arrived on scene—flames were reportedly shooting through the roof of the home. Shamokin Township, Stonington, Overlook and Elysburg fire departments all responded to the fire in Paxinos Saturday morning. (Terry Diener) Kid’s triathlon field full LEWISBURG – A kids’ triathlon is proving to be more popular than anyone expected. The upcoming 2^nd Annual Winans’ Triathlon for Kids involves swimming, cycling and running at the Lewisburg Community Park on St. Mary’s Street. Race Director Tara Michaels says Dr. Lawrence Winans and others supported the event from the beginning and are watching it grow. Michaels says the three divisions of the kids’ triathlon are already filled to capacity, though if there are cancellations, there is a waiting list. She notes the kids’ triathlon is especially popular among parents and relatives, who fill the park in order to watch. The Winans’ Triathlon for Kids is planned for Friday, August 15^th at 6:30 p.m. The 3^rd Annual LARA Sprint Triathlon for grown-ups is the following day and still has entry slots available. Portions of both events use roadways in Lewisburg and surrounding townships, and caution is advised for motorists. We’ll have more about the Sprint Triathlon as race day approaches. (Matt Farrand) Be happy at Lemonade Day in Northumberland NORTHUMBERLAND – The 4^th annual Lemonade Day in Northumberland was held over the weekend and 6-year-old, MacRay Vankirk, tells us he came out to play some games, make some money, and “just be happy.” Kids throughout the community had the opportunity to set-up their own lemonade stands and participate in games and other activities throughout the day. Awards were given out for the best stand and of course, the best tasting, lemonade. The event is usually held on the 200 block of Front Street in the borough, but it was moved into the Second Street School due to rain. The event is held by the Northumberland Point Township Revitalization Committee. (Sara Lauver) Drain Pipe theft near Shamokin under investigation SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP – Seven large drain pipes have been stolen from a location in Shamokin Township Northumberland County. State police from Stonington say the black, corrugated pipes are twenty feet long, and eighteen inches in Diameter. The pipes, owned by the Department of Transportation were stolen from School House Road between July 22^nd and August 1^st. They are valued at $28-hundred. (Terry Diener) Representative Belfanti’s back surgery successful HARRISBURG – State Representative, Bob Belfanti Jr., says surgery on his lower spine went well and was successful. After being postponed twice, the surgery was performed Wednesday at Hershey Medical Center and Belfanti was sent home Friday. Belfanti says he will be confined to bed rest and limited therapy for the next three to four weeks and full recovery is expected to take between three to four months. (Sara Lauver) Near-unanimous approval for military spending bill WASHINGTON – $24 million dollars to fund a military reserve center in Lewisburg is part of a spending bill that passed the House Friday by a vote of 409 to 4. Congressman Chris Carney voted for it and calls it step toward providing reservists with modern facilities to train locally. The bill also spends more than $18 million dollars for a reserve center in Williamsport. A similar funding measure was passed by the US senate in July, and now awaits presidential approval (Matt Farrand) Argument turns physical; two cited for harassment MIDDLEBURG – Two Middleburg residents, one a juvenile, are facing harassment charges after police were called to the scene of a domestic dispute in Snyder County’s Franklin Township Thursday afternoon. State Police in Selinsgrove say a 17-year-old juvenile got into an argument with 52-year-old, Keith James, at a residence around 3:30 p.m. Police say the argument turned physical and both were cited for harassment in District Court. (Sara Lauver) Utility reports lower quarterly earnings ALLENTOWN – Lower earnings at PPL Corp are being attributed rising fuel costs, the sale of the electric delivery business they once owned Latin America, and loss of a one-time tax advantage from a year ago. The utility reports second quarter earnings of 50 cents per share, compared with 88 cents per share during the same period in 2007. The loss of earnings from a synthetic fuel business is also noted. Efficient energy marketing and trading activities offset the negative news somewhat. The company that serves several million customers in Pennsylvania announced earnings Friday. (Matt Farrand) Here is the latest Pennsylvania news from The Associated Press: SOMERSET (AP) - Supporters of a planned memorial to victims of hijacked Flight 93 in Somerset County say it was fairly and impartially selected out of 1,100 submitted. Opponents say it's shaped like a crescent, a symbol of Islam, and honors the 9-11 hijackers. STATE COLLEGE AP)- State police say they're still making progress in figuring out who fatally stabbed a Penn State graduate student in 1969. Trooper Kent Bernier says he hopes DNA evidence will help him find the killer of 22-year-old Betsy Aardsma. DERRY (AP) - A Westmoreland County family is safe after getting lost in the woods during a severe thunderstorm. Derry Borough police say Tom and Kathy Perry and their 5-year-old twin daughters huddled together overnight for warmth. No injuries were reported. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Here are the winning numbers selected Saturday in the Pennsylvania State Lottery: SATURDAY NIGHT Daily Number 0-9-0 Big 4 8-5-4-7 The winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Powerball are: 02-05-28-33-54 Powerball: 30 Power Play: 05 SATURDAY MIDDAY Daily Number 9-3-2 Big 4 8-0-8-2 Treasure Hunt 7-8-15-16-30 The winning numbers drawn Saturday in the "Pennsylvania Cash 5" game were: 14-35-37-38-42 (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)